Life Guide Organization

We used to be 'Self Help Community Centre'

The Self Help Community Centre (SHCC) was founded in 2007 with a mission to bring education and opportunity to the rural community of Kro Bei Riel in Siem Reap, Cambodia. With just $700, Sambat Choan started the school with three bamboo classrooms and dirt floors, serving 250 children from the village. Over the years, SHCC grew to become a vibrant center of learning, offering programs in education, early childhood development, vocational training, and community empowerment.

Driven by a vision of breaking the cycle of poverty, the school transformed into a safe and inspiring environment where children and families could access the tools and resources they needed to thrive.

Articles:
https://globalfundforchildren.org/story/a-village-breaks-new-ground/

Life Guide Organization (LGO)

The story of SHCC is inseparable from the life of its founder, Sambat Choan, whose journey is a powerful testament to perseverance and the transformative power of education. Born into a poor farming family in Kro Bei Riel Commune, Sambat’s childhood was marked by hardship. Growing up during a period of post-Khmer Rouge rebuilding, his family struggled to meet basic needs, and education was often out of reach. Sambat worked long hours in the fields and performed other demanding tasks, including climbing coconut trees and carrying heavy loads of cement, to support his family.

Despite these challenges, he remained determined to learn, understanding from a young age that education could unlock a brighter future.At age 16, Sambat made the difficult decision to leave his village in search of opportunities. His journey was fraught with obstacles, from laboring in harsh conditions to seeking shelter in temples where he taught himself English by speaking with tourists. He eventually secured a place at Sala Bai, an organization that trains disadvantaged youth in hospitality, and this opened the door to stable work and further education.

Through relentless effort, Sambat not only changed his own life but also resolved to give back to his community. In 2007, he returned to Kro Bei Riel and used his hard-earned savings to establish SHCC. Driven by his belief that education could break the cycle of poverty, Sambat has devoted his life to empowering others, turning his own struggles into a source of hope for the next generation.